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Instagram Integration Guide

Step-by-step guide to integrating Instagram Business with ChatFlow for automated DM responses.

Overview

Connect your Instagram Business account to ChatFlow to enable AI-powered automated responses to Direct Messages (DMs). This integration allows your chatbot to handle customer inquiries 24/7 through Instagram.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. Instagram Business Account - Your Instagram account must be converted to a Business or Creator account
  2. Facebook Page - Your Instagram Business account must be linked to a Facebook Page
  3. Facebook Business Account - A Meta Business account to manage your assets
  4. ChatFlow Account - An active ChatFlow subscription (Pro or Enterprise)
  5. Trained Chatbot - A chatbot already created and trained in ChatFlow

Step 1: Prepare Your Instagram Account

Convert to a Business Account

If you haven't already, convert your Instagram account to a Business account:

  1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile
  2. Tap the menu (three lines) in the top right
  3. Go to Settings and privacy > Account type and tools > Switch to professional account
  4. Select Business and follow the prompts
  5. Connect to your Facebook Page when prompted

Link to Facebook Page

Your Instagram Business account must be connected to a Facebook Page:

  1. Go to your Facebook Page
  2. Click Settings > Linked Accounts > Instagram
  3. Click Connect Account and log in to Instagram
  4. Confirm the connection

Step 2: Connect Instagram to ChatFlow

Access the Integration

  1. Sign in to your ChatFlow dashboard
  2. Navigate to your chatbot
  3. Click on the Integrations tab
  4. Find Instagram and click Connect

Authorize with Facebook

  1. Click Connect with Facebook button
  2. A popup window will open for Meta authorization
  3. Log in with the Facebook account that manages your Instagram Business account
  4. Select your Instagram Business account from the list
  5. Select the Facebook Page linked to your Instagram
  6. Review and approve the requested permissions:
    • instagram_basic - Access your Instagram account info
    • instagram_manage_messages - Send and receive messages
    • pages_messaging - Manage messaging for your page
  7. Click Done to complete authorization

Automatic Configuration

ChatFlow will automatically:

  • Register webhook endpoints for message notifications
  • Configure message permissions
  • Save your secure credentials
  • Enable the integration

Step 3: Verify Integration

Once connected, you'll see:

  • Your Instagram username displayed
  • Integration status showing Active
  • Option to test the integration

Test Your Integration

  1. Open Instagram on a different account (or ask a friend)
  2. Send a DM to your connected Instagram Business account
  3. Your ChatFlow chatbot should respond automatically

Managing Your Integration

View Integration Status

From the Integrations page, you can see:

  • Connection status (Active/Inactive)
  • Connected Instagram account
  • Last activity timestamp

Edit Integration Settings

  1. Go to Integrations tab in your chatbot settings
  2. Click the Edit button on Instagram integration
  3. Update settings as needed
  4. Save changes

Disable Integration

To temporarily disable the integration:

  1. Go to Integrations tab
  2. Toggle the Instagram integration to Inactive
  3. Messages will no longer be handled by the chatbot

Disconnect Integration

To completely remove the integration:

  1. Go to Integrations tab
  2. Click Delete on the Instagram integration
  3. Confirm the deletion

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Popup Blocked

  • Allow popups for chat-flow.app in your browser settings
  • Try again after enabling popups

Instagram Account Not Showing

  • Ensure your Instagram is a Business or Creator account
  • Verify it's linked to a Facebook Page
  • Check that you're logged into the correct Facebook account

Messages Not Being Received

  • Verify the integration shows as Active
  • Check that your chatbot is trained and active
  • Ensure webhook permissions are properly configured

Authorization Failed

  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting the integration
  • Ensure you have admin access to the Facebook Page
  • Check that your Facebook Business account is verified

Permission Requirements

The integration requires these Meta permissions:

  • instagram_basic - Required for account access
  • instagram_manage_messages - Required for DM handling
  • pages_messaging - Required for message delivery
  • pages_manage_metadata - Required for webhook configuration

Best Practices

  1. Response Time - The chatbot responds within seconds, improving customer satisfaction
  2. Fallback to Human - Configure handover triggers for complex inquiries
  3. Business Hours - Set custom responses for outside business hours
  4. Welcome Message - Create an engaging first response for new conversations
  5. Regular Testing - Periodically test the integration to ensure it's working

Supported Features

  • Incoming DMs - Automatic responses to direct messages
  • Text Messages - Full support for text-based conversations
  • Quick Replies - Send suggested response buttons
  • Message Threading - Maintain conversation context

Limitations

  • Instagram Stories mentions are not supported
  • Comments on posts are not handled
  • Voice messages require transcription (coming soon)
  • Video/image analysis has limited support

Note: This integration is available to Pro and Enterprise users. Instagram may have rate limits on automated messaging. ChatFlow is not responsible for any Instagram policy violations - ensure your automated responses comply with Instagram's Platform Policy and Community Guidelines.

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